1. adj.1 (of a person, desire, or interest) eager, ardent (a keen sportsman).
2 (foll. by on) much attracted by; fond of or enthusiastic about.
3 (of the senses) sharp; highly sensitive.
4 intellectually acute.
5 a having a sharp edge or point. b (of an edge etc.) sharp.
6 (of a sound, light, etc.) penetrating, vivid, strong.
7 (of a wind, frost, etc.) piercingly cold.
8 (of a pain etc.) acute, bitter.
9 Brit. (of a price) competitive.
10 colloq. excellent.
Derivatives:
keenly adv. keenness n.
Etymology: OE cene f. Gmc 2. n. & v.
--n. an Irish funeral song accompanied with wailing.
--v.
1. intr. utter the keen.
2 tr. bewail (a person) in this way.
3 tr. utter in a wailing tone.
Derivatives:
keener n.
Etymology: Ir. caoine f. caoinim wail